Compositions for removing or lightening hair color

ABSTRACT

The composition for removing or lightening hair color is in the form of a hair color lightening suspension and is mixed with an aqueous oxidizing composition immediately prior to use. The composition includes a combination of from 0.1 to 80 percent by weight of one or more organic lipophilic compounds, namely vegetable or animal fats, vegetable or animal oils, vegetable or animal waxes, paraffin hydrocarbons, higher alcohols or ethers, aliphatic and aromatic esters and/or silicone oils; from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of at least one lipophilic inorganic or organic thickener, which is a bentonite and/or dextrin palmitate; from 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of one or more hydrophilic inorganic or organic thickeners; from 10 to 65 percent by weight of at least one inorganic persalt; from 10 to 45 percent by weight of at least one alkaline reacting salt; and auxiliary substances and cosmetic additive ingredients, as needed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a composition for removing orlightening (bleaching) hair color, especially of human hair, which ismixed with an aqueous oxidation agent containing preparation immediatelyprior to application to hair to have its color removed or lightened.

2. Description of the Related Art

Usually oxidizing preparations are used for decolorizing or bleachinghair, which are obtained by dissolving a so-called bleaching powder(powder mixture of alkali salts and inorganic persalts, such as sodiumor ammonium persulfate) in an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution.

The use of this kind of bleaching powder, which necessarily comprises aplurality of ingredients, has many disadvantages. The different powderyingredients thus have a tendency to separate during storage or transportbecause of the use of raw materials having different densities. Theheavier ingredients of the powder collect in the lower portion of thepowder's container, while the lighter ingredients collect in the upperportion. This un-mixing or separation has the consequence that equalportions of powder taken from different parts of the container havedifferent chemical compositions and thus can have a differentdecolorizing or bleaching action. In order to counteract this separationit is necessary to shake the powder thoroughly before taking it from thecontainer, which however the user does not usually do. A separation canalso be counteracted by the use of mixed powders with very small grainsize. This however has the disadvantage that those powder mixtures areinclined to generate dust, which leads to irritation of the lungs,especially when the container is opened and the powder is removed andmixed with hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore this sort of powder mixturehas a large surface area because of its reduced grain size, so that anup-take of moisture occurs on opening and closing of the container. Thusa reduction of the hair decolorizing or color lightening action ispromoted on account of the deactivation of the oxygen carrier.

The preparation of the ready-to-use mixture occurs by stirring theingredients in a vessel or by mixing them together in a shaking flask.Especially shaking often involves a troublesome dust development onfilling the ingredients into the shaking flask.

There already have been numerous attempts to solve this problem. Thus,in German Patent Document DE-OS 40 26 235 a mixture comprising apersulfate granulate and granulate of conventional ingredients of ableaching agent is described instead of a bleaching powder. Of coursethe problem of dust generation can be eliminated by use of granulate,but the problem of separation cannot be solved in this way, since it isexceptionally difficult to prepare an individual granulate withidentical and constant grain size and batch weight. Furthermore thebleaching or decolorizing action can be impaired because of thediffering solubility of the individual granulates. From an economicstandpoint it does not make sense to produce a mixture of severalgranulates instead of an individual granulate. In EP-PS 0 560 088 apowdery agent for lightening or decolorizing the hair is described inwhich an oil or a liquid wax is added to prevent dust formation. Howeverdust generation cannot be eliminated completely in this manner, i.e. theresulting composition is not dust-free. Furthermore a deactivation ofthe oxygen carrier occurs because of the water content of the powderyraw material employed, whereby the product is unstable and itsdecolorizing or bleaching action is lost. Furthermore bleaching agentsof this type are unsuitable for use in an applicator flask because oftheir specific gravity and their hydrophobic character. The powder doesnot sink to the bottom of the hydrogen peroxide solution and is notsufficiently wet, whereby a non-uniform mixture with a high percentageof undissolved powder is obtained, which clogs the outlet of theapplicator flask. The addition of surfactants, which improve thesolubility of the powder is similarly problematical, since thestorability of the powder is impaired by that. Pasty two-componentpreparations for making a ready-to-apply pasty preparation for bleachingof human hair are described in DE-OS 38 14 356 and U.S. Pat. No.4,170,637. In these preparations the powdery ingredients are worked intoa hydrophobic base, comprising oil and wax, so that a paste results.This suspension has the disadvantage that it is somewhat inclined towardphase separation, which is observable as an oil separation. In order toprevent this an absorbing agent, for example silicic acid, is added,whereby the paste again is very solid. In DE-PS 197 23 538 pasty twocomponent preparations were described for making a ready-to-use pastypreparation for bleaching of human hair. This preparation, besides theusual ingredients for bleaching contains a certain thickenercombination. This thickener combination comprises an acrylic acidpolymer and at least one polymer made from cellulose, alginate andpolysaccharide, at least one mineral oil, at least one liquid,long-chain, hydrophobic fatty acid ester and at least one waxy,long-chain, hydrophobic fatty acid ester and/or synthetic beeswaxsubstitutes. These agents are however not satisfactory in every aspector regard in relation to their behavior at high temperatures. In DE-OS199 09 661 the use of special bleaching agent suspensions based oningredients that form lipogels or oleogels is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage-stable,non-dust generating composition for decolorizing hair or bleaching hair,which is mixed immediately prior to use by simply shaking or stirringwith an oxidizing agent preparation and, besides its absolutelydust-free administration and application form, also guarantees very goodbleaching action with simultaneously good storage stability between 5and 45° C., without losing its outstanding creamy consistency and thusits outstanding decolorizing or bleaching properties when it is cooledand/or heated.

Surprisingly it has now been found that the above-described objects canbe attained by a pasty hair decolorizing or color lightening compositionbased on a new special combination of thickening agents, which does notrequire addition of emulsifiers.

According to the present invention the composition for removing orlightening hair color from hair, especially human hair, which is mixedwith an aqueous oxidizing agent immediately prior to use and thuspresent in the form of a hair color lightening or brighteningsuspension, contains a combination of

(a) from 0.1 to 80 percent by weight of at least one organic lipophiliccompound selected from the group consisting of vegetable and animalfats, oils and waxes, paraffin hydrocarbons, higher alcohols and ethers,aliphatic and aromatic esters and silicone oils;.

(b) from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of at least one inorganic ororganic thickener having lipophilic character, which is selected fromthe group consisting of bentonites (hydrated colloidal aluminum silicateclays and their derivatives) and dextrin palmitic acid ester (dextrinpalmitate);

(c) from 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of at least one inorganic ororganic thickener with hydrophilic character;

(d) from 10 to 65 percent by weight of at least one inorganic persalt;

(e) from 10 to 45 percent by weight of at least one alkaline reactingsalt; as well as auxiliary substances and additive ingredients asneeded.

The suitable organic lipophilic ingredients include, especially,vegetable oils, for example, jojoba oil; petrolatum (Vaseline©); liquidparaffins, especially paraffinum perliquidum and paraffinum subliquidum;silicone oils; liquid, long-chain, hydrophobic fatty acid esters,especially octyl palmitate, isocetyl palmitate, isopropyl palmitate andoctyl stearate; waxy, long-chain, hydrophobic fatty acid esters and/orsynthetic wax replacing substances, such as natural or synthetic beeswax(for example lipowax 6138G® of Lipo Chemicals), C₁₈- to C₃₆-fatty acids(for example, Synchrowax AW1C® of Croda Chemicals Ltd.), C₁₀- toC₃₆-fatty acid triglycerides, such as octanoic acid/dodecanoicacid-triglycerides, hydrated coconut oil fatty acid glycerides (forexample Softisan 100® of Hüls AG), glyceryltribehenate (for exampleSynchrowax in HRC® of Croda Chemicals Ltd.), mixed fatty acid esters(for example Cutina BW® of Henkel KGaA), as well as mixtures of theforegoing ingredients. The use of jojoba oil, fatty acid esters,paraffin oils, combinations of fatty acid esters and paraffin oils aswell as combinations of fatty acid esters and/or paraffin oils withVaseline® is particularly preferred.

The lipophilic compounds are used in a total amount of about 0.1 to 80percent by weight, preferably from 3 to 65 percent by weight, andespecially preferably from 20 to 50 percent by weight, in relation tothe total amount of the hair decolorizing or hair color lighteningsuspension.

The inorganic or organic thickeners with lipophilic character are,especially, Quaternium-18 Bentonite (especially Tixogel MP 100 ofSüdchemie) and dextrin palmitate (especially Rheopearl KL of Chiba FlourMilling Co., Ltd.) and mixtures of these compounds.

The inorganic or organic lipophilic thickeners or their mixtures form anoleogel or lipogel when dissolved in the above-described liponphiliccompounds. The dissolving of the lipophilic thickeners in the lipophiliccomponent can be assisted by heating or by the use of solvating agents,such as propylene carbonates especially.

The inorganic or organic thickeners with lipophilic character are usedin a total amount of from about 0.1 to 40 percent by weight, preferablyfrom 0.1 to 10 percent by weight, in relation to the total amount of thehair decolorizing or hair color lightening suspension.

Polymers from the group consisting of cellulose polymer compounds,alginate, polysaccharides and acrylic acid polymers, preferably methylcellulose compounds, ethyl cellulose compounds, hydroxyethylcellulosecompounds, methylhydroxyethylcellulose compounds,methylhydroxypropylcellulose compounds, carboxymethyl cellulosecompounds, alginic acids, sodium alginates, ammonium alginates, calciumalginates, gum arabic, guar gum or xanthan gum, or acrylic acid polymerswith molecular weights from about 1,250,000 to 4,000,000, alone or incombination with each other, are especially preferred for use as thehydrophilic inorganic or organic thickners. The use of swelling delayingmethylhydroxyethylcelluloses, a combination of alginates withpolysaccharides and/or celluloses, or a combination of alginates and/orcelluloses with acrylic acid polymers is especially preferred.

The hydrophilic thickeners are used in a total amount of about 0.1 to 40percent by weight, preferably from 0.2 to 20 percent by weight, andespecially preferably in an amount of from 0.5 to 15 percent by weight,in relation to the total amount of hair decolorizing or hair colorlightening suspension according to the invention.

Preferably inorganic persulfates, such as ammonium persulfate and alkalipersulfates, especially sodium persulfate and potassium persulfate, ormixtures of these inorganic persalts, and alkaline earth peroxides areused as the inorganic persalts. The persalts are used in a total amountof preferably 10 to 65 percent by weight, especially of 20 to 55 percentby weight, in relation to the total amount of the hair decolorizing orhair color lightening suspension.

For example, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, magnesiumcarbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate, sodiumsilicate, or a mixture of these salts, are used as the alkali-reactingalkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts. These salts areincluded in the hair decolorizing or hair color lightening compositionin a total amount of preferably from 10 to 45 percent by weight,especially preferably from 15 to 35 percent by weight, in relation tothe total amount of the hair decolorizing or hair color lighteningsuspension.

The creamy bleaching agent suspension can also contain standard cosmeticadditive ingredients, for example care materials, silicon dioxide,titanium dioxide, chelating agents for heavy metal ions, especiallyethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, dyes, especially ultramarine dyestuffs, or perfumes. These cosmetic additive ingredients are used inamounts that are standard for their purposes. For example, the careingredients, the silicon dioxide and the chelating agents are used in anamount of from 0.01 to 3 percent by weight and the dyes and perfumes areused in an amount of from 0.01 to 2 percent by weight.

Similarly the bleaching or hair color lightening suspension according tothe invention may also contain, in addition to the above-describedinorganic or organic thickeners of component b), additional lipophilicinorganic or organic thickeners, such as alkali carboxylates, alkalineearth carboxylates or aluminum carboxylates, especially sodiumpalmitate, aluminum/magnesium hydroxystearate or magnesium stearate,aluminum monostearate, aluminum monodistearate and/or aluminumtristearate; copolymerizates of alkenes, preferably ethylene/propylenecopolymers; cross-linked organic polymers and lipophilized layeredsilicates, such as benzyl dimethyistearyl ammonium hectorite (forexample Bentone 28 of Fa. Rheox), and mixtures of these compounds.Addition of alkali metal stearates, alkaline earth metal stearates,aluminum stearates and aluminum/magnesium hydroxystearates, andespecially magnesium stearates and aluminum stearates, as the additionallipophilic inorganic or organic thickener component in the compositionaccording to the invention is particularly preferred. The additionallipophilic inorganic or organic thickeners are preferably contained inthe bleaching agent suspension according to the invention in an amountof 0.2 to 20 percent by weight. Similarly it is possible to useready-to-use mixtures of lipophilic thickeners and lipophilic compounds,for example Brooks Gel® of Brooks Industries, the Bentone Gel® types ofRheox, the Myglyol Gel® and Softisan Gel® types of Hüls AG and Gilugel®types of BK Giulini Chemie.

Preferably the bleaching or hair decolorizing or hair color lighteningsuspension contains no surfactants or emulsifiers and is water-free.However water content of up to a maximum of 3 percent by weight isallowable.

The hair decolorizing or hair color lightening suspension according tothe invention is mixed with an oxidizing preparation immediately priorto use to form an decolorizing paste for application to hair to betreated. This mixing can occur in a dish or by shaking an applicatorflask. Particularly an aqueous solution containing hydrogen peroxide oran oil-in-water emulsion (especially a 6 to 12 percent hydrogen peroxidesolution or hydrogen peroxide emulsion) can be used as the oxidizingagent preparation. However it is also possible to use an adduct, forexample urea peroxide or melamine perhydrate, from which hydrogenperoxide is split off.

The mixture ratio of decolorizing suspension to oxidizing agentpreparation is preferably from 2:1 to 1:8, especially from 1:1 to 1:5.

The ready-to-use composition for decolorizing or bleaching of hairobtained after mixing with the oxidizing agent preparation has a pH ofabout 7.5 to 11, especially from 8 to 9.5.

The ready-to-use composition is applied uniformly on the hair and isrinsed from the hair with water after an acting time of 15 to 60 minutesat room temperature (20 to 25° C.) or from 10 to 50 minutes when thehair is heated (30 to 50° C.).

The creamy bleaching agent suspension can be filled into tubes, sachetsor bowls according to its viscosity. Besides the user-friendly productviscosity over a wide temperature range and the easy mixability with theoxidizing agent the composition according to the invention hasoutstanding storage stability, applicability, distributability andadherence to the hair, as well as a wide range of applications. Incomparison to conventional bleaching agents, the composition accordingto the invention provides an improved lightening or brightening of thehair color shade with a reduced amount of active bleaching ingredient.The decolorizing or lightening composition according to the inventionmay be very easily rinsed out from the hair with water without leaving aresidue because of the emulsifying properties of the gel-formingingredients.

The following examples illustrate the composition according to theinvention, but their details should not be considered as limiting theclaims appended hereinbelow.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Composition

Creamy Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Suspension 8.0 gisododecane/ethylene mixed copolymer (Brooks Gel ® of Brooks IndustriesInc.) 8.0 g isopropylpalmitate 16.0 g jojoba oil 4.0 g C₁₀–C₁₈ fattyacid triglycerides (Nesatol ® of Fa. Vevy) 24.2 g sodium metasilicate4.0 g sodium alginate 11.3 g diammonium persulfate 22.5 g dipotassiumpersulfate 1.0 g dextrin palmitate (Rheopearl KL of Chiba Flour MillingCo.) 1.0 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt 100.0 g

First, the liquid ingredients are heated to 75 to 80° C. and uniformlymixed with the dextrin palmitate at 80° C. Subsequently the premixedsolid raw materials are added. Care is taken to provide a uniformdistribution of the solid materials in the lipogel matrix.

Application

25 g of the previously described hair color lightening suspension ofexample 1 are shaken together with 75 g of a 6 percent hydrogen peroxidesolution of the following composition:

6.0 g hydrogen peroxide 2.0 g cetyl stearyl alcohol 0.2 g lanolinalcohol 0.1 g phosphoric acid (85%) 91.7 g water 100.0 gin an applicator flask for 10 to 15 seconds. Subsequently thedecolorizing agent is uniformly distributed on the hair to be lightenedby means of an applicator flask. After an acting time of 30 minutes atroom temperature (20 to 30° C.) the hair is rinsed with warm water anddried.

The brightening or lightening degree amounts to three color shades andcan be increased about 1 to 2 color shades by extending the acting timeabout 20 minutes.

Example 2 Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Composition

Creamy Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Suspension 1.9 gQuaternium-18 Bentonite (Tixogel MP 100 of Südchemie) 34.1 g paraffinoil 23.0 g disodium persulfate 17.0 g dipotassium persulfate 20.0 gsodium metasilicate 1.5 g xanthane gum 1.5 g acrylic acid polymer(Synthalene ® K of 3V-Sigma) 0.5 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic aciddisodium salt 100.0 g

To make the creamy bleaching agent suspension the Quaternium-18Bentonite is added to the paraffin oil and the mixture is subsequentlyhomogenized for 10 minutes at 75° C. with a rotor-stator system at15,000 rpm at room temperature. The solid premixed raw materials aresubsequently added in the lipogel made in this way. Care is taken toprovide a uniform distribution of the solid materials in the lipogelmatrix.

Application

25 g of the above described decolorizing agent suspension are stirreduniformly together with 25 g of a 9 percent hydrogen peroxideoil-in-water emulsion of the following composition:

9.0 g hydrogen peroxide 2.0 g cetyl stearyl alcohol 0.2 g lanolinalcohol 0.1 g phosphoric acid (85%) 88.7 g water 100.0 gin a dish with a brush. Subsequently the pasty decolorizing compositionobtained in this manner is applied uniformly to medium brown hair andafter an acting time of 30 minutes at room temperature, the hair isrinsed with warm water and dried. The hair treated in this manner isbrightened to a bright blond color shade.

Example 3 Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Composition

Creamy Hair Color Brightening or Lightening Suspension 41.5 g octylstearate 2.5 g paraffinum perliquidum 2.0 g petrolatum (Vaseline ®) 2.0g dextrin palmitate (Rheopearl KL of Chiba Flour Milling Co.) 2.0 gjojoba oil 4.0 g disodium persulfate 17.0 g dipotassium persulfate 8.0 gdiammonium persulfate 18.0 g sodium metasilicate 2.5 g sodium alginate0.5 g ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt 100.0 g

First, the dextrin palmitate is completely dissolved in the lipophilicmixture of octyl stearate, paraffin oil and Vaseline® by heating at 90°C. to make this creamy hair color lightening or brightening suspension.The jojoba oil is uniformly distributed at 70° C. in the coolingoleogel. The premixed solid raw materials are subsequently added to thelipogel arising after cooling to room temperature. Care is taken toprovide a uniform distribution of the solid materials in the lipogelmatrix.

Application

25 g of the above described hair color lightening suspension are stirreduniformly together with 37.5 g of a 6 percent hydrogen peroxide solutionin a dish with a brush. However it is also possible to provide thehydrogen peroxide solution in an applicator flask and to shake it withthe hair color lightening suspension to form a ready-to-use decolorizingcomposition. The decolorizing composition is then applied uniformly tothe hair whose color is to be lightened or brightened and after anacting time of 40 minutes at room temperature it is mixed with water.Then the hair is dried. The degree of hair color lightening amounts toabout four color shades or tones.

All percentages, unless otherwise indicated, are percentages by weight.

The disclosure in German Patent Application 101 53 686.0 of Oct. 31,2001 is incorporated here by reference. This German Patent Applicationdescribes the invention described hereinabove and claimed in the claimsappended hereinbelow and provides the basis for a claim of priority forthe instant invention under 35 U.S.C. 119.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied incompositions for removing or lightening hair color, it is not intendedto be limited to the details shown, since various modifications andchanges may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of thepresent invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

1. A composition for removing or lightening hair color, which is mixedwith an aqueous oxidizing agent containing preparation immediately priorto application to hair, said composition comprising a combination offrom 0.1 to 80 percent by weight of at least one organic lipophiliccompound selected from the group consisting of vegetable fats, animalfats, vegetable oils, animal oils, vegetable waxes, animal waxes,paraffin hydrocarbons, higher alcohols, higher ethers, aliphatic esters,aromatic esters and silicone oils; from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight ofdextrin palmitate; from 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of at least oneinorganic or organic thickener with a hydrophilic character; from 10 to65 percent by weight of at least one inorganic persalt; from 10 to 45percent by weight of at least one alkaline reacting salt; and optionallyat least ore cosmetic additive ingredient.
 2. The composition as definedin claim 1, wherein said at least one organic lipophilic compound isselected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, petrolatum, liquidparaffins, silicone oils, liquid long-chain hydrophobic fatty acidesters, natural beeswax, synthetic beeswax, C₁₈- to C₃₈-fatty acids, C₁₀to C₃₈ fatty acid triglycerides and mixed fatty acid esters.
 3. Thecomposition as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one organiclipophilic compound is selected from the group consisting of jojoba oil,fatty acid esters, paraffin oils and petrolatum.
 4. The composition asdefined in claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic or organicthickener with said hydrophilic character is selected from the groupconsisting of cellulose polymers, alginates, polysaccharides and acrylicacids.
 5. The composition as defined in claim 1, wherein said at leastone inorganic or organic thickener with said hydrophilic character isselected from the group consisting of methyl cellulose compounds, ethylcellulose compounds, hydroxyethyl cellulose compounds,methylhydroxyethyl cellulose compounds, methyl-hydroxypropyl cellulosecompounds, carboxyrmethyl cellulose compounds, alginic acid, sodiumalginate, ammonium alginate, calcium alginate, gum arabic, guar gum,xenthan gum and acrylic acid polymer compounds with a molecular weightof from about 1,250,000 to 4,000,000 g/mol.
 6. The composition asdefined in claim 1, wherein said at least one inorganic persalt isselected from the group consisting of alkaline earth peroxides, ammoniumpersulfates and alkali metal persulfates.
 7. The composition as definedin claim 1, wherein said alkaline reacting salt is selected from thegroup consisting of sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate,magnesium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, ammonium hydrogen carbonate andsodium silicate.
 8. The composition as defined in claim 1, furthercomprising at least one additional organic thickener having lipophiliccharacter and wherein said at least one additional organic thickener isselected from the group consisting of alkali metal carboxylates,alkaline earth metal carboxylates, aluminum carboxylates,copolymerizates of atones, cross-linked organic polymers andlipophilized layered silicates.
 9. The composition as defined in claim1, containing no surfactant compounds.
 10. A ready-to-use compositionfor lightening hair color made by mixing an aqueous oxidizingcomposition consisting of a 6 to 12 percent aqueous hydrogen peroxidesolution or emulsion with another composition immediately prior to use,said another composition comprising a combination of from 0.1 to 80percent by weight of at least one organic lipophilic compound selectedfrom the group consisting of vegetable fats, animal fats, vegetableoils, animal oils, vegetable waxes, animal waxes, paraffin hydrocarbons,higher alcohols, higher ethers, sliphatic esters, aromatic esters andsilicone oils; from 0.01 to 20 percent by weight of dextrin palmitate;from 0.1 to 40 percent by weight of at least one inorganic or organicthickener with a hydrophilic character; from 10 to 65 percent by weightof at least one inorganic persalt; from 10 to 45 percent by weight of atleast one alkaline reacting salt; and optionally at least one cosmeticadditive ingredient.
 11. The ready-to-use composition as defined inclaim 10, wherein said another composition is mixed with said oxidizingcomposition in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:8.
 12. The ready-to-usecomposition as defined in claim 10, having a pH of from 7.5 to 11.